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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast…1pm
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“CHARGERS-BRONCOS…Crossroads game”
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A big Thursday night game, and who would have thought this game would be so important this late in the season?

Not me.  Probably not Jim Harbaugh..nor Sean Payton.

So as they kickoff, there are so many storylines between these two AFC-West rivals.

The Bolts are staggering, having lost 3-of-4, after their (7-3) start.
The Broncos are rolling, with a raw rookie at QB, having won 4 in a row.

Justin Herbert is banged up and so is his offense, despite his impressive stats (16TD-2 Int).

Bo Nix has grown immensely since the first month of the season, nearly (3300 APY-24TD) and carrying the banner on offense.

The Chargers WR-group is led by Ladd McConkey (63R) but virtually no consistency from anyone else.

The Broncos have waited a long time for Courtland Sutton to emerge and he has (66R-13YPC) to lead an otherwise no name group of pass catchers.

The Broncos offensive front has been solid protecting a mobile Nix.

The Chargers, with the 3-number one picks upfront, have not, allowing a total of 42-sacks and a terrible tail off in the run game (2.7YPC) since JK Dobbins got hurt.

And by the way, in this Bolt tailspin, the offense is averaging (280YPG) and go long stretches without scoring drives, 6-in a row last week vs Tampa, and it has happened multiple times this season.

Denver’s defense is rugged,giving up just (311YPG) to go with 49-sacks and 23-takeaways.

The Bolts once highly rated defense, has caved in.  Since the near loss to Cincinnati, in the last five weeks, the Chargers are giving up (419YPG)…have allowed 129-points..given up 111-first downs.  The run defense is giving up just shy of 5YPC in that span.

So here is Jim Harbaugh, still selling positivity in all his press briefings, but the product isn’t showing that right now.

Sean Payton hasn’t had to say much.  He lets his team do the talking on Sunday, with all those wins, and the fact they have 4-losses by a TD or less with the rookie Nix from Oregon running the show is pretty impressive.

Hard to believe the Chargers are in this situation right now.  Equally hard to believe the Broncos have 9-wins this season with 3-weeks left to play.  And Denver has four road wins on their resume already.  The Chargers, some bad losses against good teams.

Yes the Chargers should win the final two games against the basement dwelling Patriots and Raiders, but who knows where they will be emotionally or physically by then.

And how important is all this?  If the Chargers lose, it likely means a wildcard game in Buffalo in January, against Superman Josh Allen, the Bills defense and the weatherman.

If the Broncos win, it probably means they wind up going to play in Pittsburgh, where the Bolts got punched in the mouth earlier in the season.

My heart says the Bolts could win on Thursday night.
My head says the Broncos are a more complete team and playing better right now.

Crossroads game for the Bolts.  Very important for Denver to grow as a team.

What say you?

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